Athlete – Baseball
John T. Shelby Jr. was born on February 23, 1958, in Lexington, Kentucky to Brenda J. Shelby and the late John T. Shelby Sr. After the separation of his parents at an early age, John T. and his younger siblings Bonita and Jeff were raised by their mother in Smithtown, where everyone was like family. His brother Stan and sister Felice were later born into the family.
Also known as “T,” John’s dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player started in Little League at Douglass and Castlewood parks. He continued playing in Babe Ruth and on to Henry Clay, where he flourished as an elite baseball and basketball player. In his senior year of 1976, John received numerous awards, including Most Valuable Player as well as the Highest Batting Average. John was a pitcher but mainly played shortstop.
After high school, John attended Columbia State Community College for one year on a baseball scholarship and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round of the January 1977 amateur draft. He made his professional debut that year for the Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League.
John was a center fielder and spent five seasons in the minors before being called up to the big leagues in September in 1981. The next year, in 1982 he was called up by the Orioles. John played on two World Series championship teams, winning the first in his rookie season with the 1983 Baltimore Orioles and the latter with the 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers.
His 42-year professional career included 15 years as a player and 27 years as a coach. John played for the Baltimore Orioles (‘77-’87), the L.A. Dodgers (‘87-’90), and the Detroit Tigers (‘90-’91). His playing career ended with the Boston Red Sox AAA team.
John’s coaching career began in 1992 at the rookie level in Butte, Montana, and as a major-league and minor-league coach in the L.A. Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, and Atlanta Braves organizations.
John and his Henry Clay High School sweetheart, Trina Dixon Shelby, have been married for 41 years and have six children: five sons, John T. III (wife Tricia, grandchildren Jaxon, Teegan and Jace); Jeremy (wife Alysha, granddaughter Ashyr and grandson #3 arriving soon); Justin, JaVon and Jaren. The couple has one daughter, Tiara (granddaughter Dilynn).
John says “some of the best times of my life were growing up in Smithtown with my family and friends and attending Henry Clay as a student/athlete. However, one of my grandest moments was having my Henry Clay baseball jersey (#10) retired and still hanging on the outfield wall.” He thanks God for blessing him with his beautiful wife, Trina, their children, grandchildren, families, and friends. He humbly states, “It’s because of them that I am who I am, and for that I am most grateful.”
